By Deborah Madeya:
The Roads Authority (RA) has expressed concern over the surge in cases of culvert vandalism in the country, saying the malpractice is costing it billions of Kwacha.
The culverts that are commonly vandalised are Armco culverts, which are corrugated steel pipe structures that are placed underneath the road surface for drainage, the authority says.
RA says most of the roads where Armco culverts were installed had been vandalised, with only a few roads remaining intact.
RA Chief Executive Officer Ammiel Champiti said the replacement of one culvert costs the authority between K35 million and K1.10 billion, depending on the type and location of the culvert that is being replaced.
- Advertisement -
Champiti said they were working with stakeholders, including the Malawi Police Service and community members, to curb the malpractice.
“Removed or damaged culverts create a serious hazard and can be a death trap for all road users. That is why security agencies are on high alert to curb the practice, although it is challenging because many of the structures are located in remote areas.
“Scrap metal dealers are being engaged and encouraged to stop buying Armco materials to reduce the market for stolen metal,” Champiti said.
Commenting on the matter, Transporters Association of Malawi spokesperson Frank Banda said vandalism of culverts compromised road safety and disrupted businesses, as it delayed the transportation of goods from one area to another.
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
“When those culverts are removed, the roads become impassable. This slows down business and affects the economy at large because trucks carrying important items such as fuel and fertiliser are usually affected and vehicles are forced to use detours that are mostly rough and lengthy, which may cause damage to the vehicles and require significant maintenance costs,” Banda said.
Earlier this year, Minister of Transport Jappie Mhango revealed that the government’s planned to replace all Armco metal culverts with concrete ones to prevent cases of theft.
